Cherilata
Painter
History
Bred by John Painter of Bokeelia, Florida, in the early 1990s by pollinating a 'Spain' cherimoya seedling with pollen from a grafted 'Tikal' custard apple (Annona reticulata). Only one seedling from that cross survived to maturity - the original Painter tree - which effectively established Cherilata as its own hybrid category, the way Atemoya did for cherimoya x sugar apple crosses.
Taste profile
Widely described as tasting like berry cheesecake - creamy and smooth like a cherimoya, with bright berry undertones, and noticeably fewer seeds than most reticulata-type custard apples.
Growing habits
A vigorous, mostly evergreen, upright tree, more tolerant of heat and humidity than a straight cherimoya thanks to its reticulata parentage. Mature trees can produce 50-75 fruits a season. Harvest runs late summer into fall. Benefits from hand-pollination for reliable fruit set.
Shipping
Does not ship well. Soft dessert-style flesh, best eaten fresh soon after ripening rather than stored or shipped.